August 5, 2009, at 2:22 am
For the next few weeks our very own Jordan Lauterbach will be previewing the upcoming 2009 College Football season. Each day, he will be posting a new preview so be sure to check in everyday.
Last Season: 12-1, 7-1, Beat Ohio State in Fiesta Bowl
There is unfinished business in Austin. For lack of a better term, everyone this side of Texas can sense it. For those who thought Utah got hosed last season, what about Texas. Here’s a squad that had only one loss and are stuck at home watching a team they beat play for a national championship. Talk about a bummer.
But to their credit, the Longhorns didn’t let their misfortune at the polls affect them in a BCS game that may have felt more like the Meineke Car Care bowl to some dejected Longhorn fans. After blowing a 17-6 lead in the fourth quarter, Heisman candidate Colt McCoy marched the Longhorns 76 yards down the field and fired the game winning touchdown pass with 16 seconds remaining. HA! Take that BCS!
That was a fantastic win. Perhaps the best BCS game I’ve seen in a very long time. Maybe since Vince Young led the Longhorns to a national championship in the Rose Bowl a few years back. But here’s something else: that was only the begining.
Welcome to 2009, ladies and gentleman AKA The Longhorn Revenge….I have a feeling that this Texas team is on a mision. A mision that will take no prisoners.
Whenever you start a conversation about Texas, it invaribly starts with Colt Mcoy. Back for his senior year, McCoy is ready for results. He isn’t back for a Heisman (although it would be nice). He isn’t back for another Walter Camp award or be given the title of All-American once more. McCoy is back for that ever elusive national championship. And you’d be nuts if you didn’t think he had a real good shot at it.
I think McCoy is going to have his best year yet in 2009. I’m not all that concerned about the 11-24 preformance in this year’s spring game. McCoy’s track record is such that I don’t put a lot of stock in one preformance in the windy spring Texas weather. Last season, McCoy threw for over 3,800 yards and 34 touchdowns. Expect him to be at least this good. In each of his first three years in college, his stats steadily improved. Even if by just a little bit, I expect that trend to continue this season.
His recievers will have a lot to do with that, obviously. Many believe that this could be one of the best recieving cores that McCoy has been surrounded with. Jordan Shipley returns after a season in which he caught 89 passes for over 1000 yards and 11 touchdowns. Brandon Collins, Malcom Williams, and James Kirkendoll also add to this stout group.
When it comes to the Heisman. I think McCoy has as good a shot as any. What doesn’t help McCoy is that both of his main competitors, Tim Tebow and Sam Bradford, are also back. But I think Bradford’s numbers will not be as rediculous as they were last year and, as we saw last year when Bradford won it, Tim Tebow might have to play out of his head to win a second Heisman.
What will help McCoy is a beter running game. Last season, McCoy led the team in rushing. That’s never a good sign. If Cody Johnson or Vondrell McGee can make signifigant strides it will help the run game tremendously. Texas only averaged 4.3 yards per carry last season. This may have been a product of a offensive line with a lot of question marks more then anything else. The line will be aided by a healthy Blaine Irby. Irby, a tight end, missed most of last season and spring practice. His increased presence will help both the running and passing game.
Defensivly, the name of the game is turnovers. Texas was terrible at forcing turnovers last season. Finishing last in the Big 12 and 113th in the nation, their ineptitude in this category leaves them almost no choice but to improve. If you believe that turnovers are largly based on luck, maybe the fortunes will change.
Texas worked a lot on forcing turnovers during the spring. If you choose to use the spring game as any indication, safety Earl Thomas returned an interception for a touchdown. Hey, I guess its a start.
While the Longhorn D lost three starting defensive lineman, including All-American Brian Orakpo, the line may not take as big a hit as one would think. Sergio Kindle is supposed to step in and make a huge impact. Kindle had 10 sacks last year and looks to be improved.
Whats most encouraging about this Texas Longhorn team is that they all seem to be on the same page. Many of these Longhorn keys could have joined senior Brian Orakpo in the NFL. McCoy would have made himself a lot of money, for sure.
But they didn’t. And I think that shows something. It shows that this team is tired of being left out in the cold. It’s time for this group to finally win.
3 Games to Watch
October 17th- Oklahoma- Texas has won three out of the last four matchups, but it sure doesn’t feel like it. In the revenge year for all revenge years, look for blood to be on the minds of the Texas Longhorns. Still, if last year was any indication, it may not matter anyway. But try telling that to Texas.
October 31st- @ Oklahoma State- Deffonetly the toughest road game on the scedule for Texas. Ok State projects third in the Big 12 South, but watch out for that offense. Especially if the turnovers aren’t comming.
November 21- Kansas- Might this be a Big 12 championship game preview? Kansas looks like its headed back in the right direction in the Big 12 North after a lackluster 2009. Todd Reesing is still a very dangerous player.
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You can also find Colt McCoy’s smiling face on the cover of ESPN magazine in a story called:
Reply to Joyce BristerThe Legend(s) of Colt McCoy.
I know that the Longhorn Nation is going to be very pleased with the pre-season publicity that Colt earned from his 2008 career. He just needs to keep it going as the competition is pretty stiff for Heisman this year.
Best luck to Colt and with the new Texas Memorial stadium expansion, he should have even MORE fans behind him and the team on gameday this year. Most folks in Texas are really looking forward to the opener against Louisiana-Monroe on September 5, 2009….just a few weeks away!